The Nation’s report saves derelict school

Community Primary School, Obuozu (CPSO), in Abia State has had its fair share of abandonment by government for about a decade.

The pupils and teachers of the school have sad stories to tell about the consequence of infrastructural decadence on basic schools in Nigeria. However, its predicament would have remained the same but for the report by The Nation in February last year, highlighting its poor facilities.

Shortly thereafter, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ABSUBEB) through the local government area responded, giving rise to a new hope for not just the pupils and teachers, but also parents whose wards attend the school. Concerns of the school Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) equally made some impact.

Today, the school wears a new look with the construction of a five classroom block with toilets and offices for the staff, and another refurbished block of classrooms, courtesy of the local government with support from the state.

The UBE has equally complemented government’s effort by furnishing the infrastructure. There is the construction of classroom blocks with offices and office equipment such as tables, chairs, desks for pupils among others. There is equally the installation of toilet facilities as a part of the development.

A flashback to CPSO located in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State10 years ago simply revealed a grim picture. Children squat on the floor during classes. Whenever it rains, they would be sent home by their teachers because of the leaking roofs and rickety walls, dripping water from every corner. They usually sat under the tree whenever the classrooms were flooded. They had hard times facing school lives due to infrastructural decadence and less concern by the government of the day.

An elder in the village, Chief Chidi Ogbonna who earlier spoke to our correspondent, said the school serves both children of Obuozu as well as outsiders

Said Ogbonna: ”The CPSO is the only presence of the government in Obuozu community. Our children as well as other children in nearby communities come to the school because of its closeness to the people. The parents may not have the means to send their children to other schools in town so they send them down here.

“The government places more attention on schools located on the outskirts and gives less attention on those in the interior,” said another source who did not want to be named.

Speaking on the new development, Education Secretary of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Mr Roland Ajere said: “We thank God that the scope of teaching and learning in the school has now been widened.

He added that the school’s library has been equipped with sufficient textbooks and instructional materials.

The CPSO head teacher, Mrs Samson Chinyere confirmed that she received a computer set for the school. She pleaded that more should be provided as a computer cannot serve both students and teachers’ needs.